Frame for harvesting header with continuous section

ABSTRACT

A frame for a harvesting header has a top beam extending across substantially a full width of the harvesting header and has ends arranged adjacent respective ends of the harvesting header and a midpoint in a center area of the harvesting header. The header frame has a bottom beam substantially parallel to the top beam extending less than the full width of the harvesting header and having a midpoint in the center area of the harvesting header. Vertical main structures connect the top and bottom beams. Diagonal truss members connect the ends of the top beam and interfaces of the bottom beam and vertical main structures. The vertical main structures form a feederhouse interface at the center area of the harvesting header. The top beam and bottom beam are continuous through the center area of the harvesting header. Header drive assemblies are mounted at the ends of the bottom beam.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/580,744 filed Dec. 28, 2011, entitled “FRAME FOR HARVESTING HEADER WITH CONTINUOUS SECTION”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to a harvesting header for a combine harvester, and more particularly, to a header frame having continuous beams through the center feederhouse interface region.

2. Description of Related Art

Agricultural harvesters such as combines are typically equipped with a harvesting header. For example, corn headers are specifically designed to pick corn and vary in size from two-row units to twelve-row units or more. As the harvester moves through the field, each row-unit passes between rows of corn. Corn header row units typically use gathering chains to covey crop material and ears rearward toward a cross auger. A set of driven snap rolls, which rotate based on the speed of the harvester, grabs the corn stalks and forces them downward between stripper plates. The ears of corn are snapped free of the stalk and the cross auger passes the ears to the feeder housing of the harvester. If the snap rolls are operated too fast or too slow, ears of corn may be lost or entire corn stalks may be passed to the cross auger and feeder housing.

Over the years, the width of harvesting headers has increased in order to reducing the number of passes through the field required by the harvesting machine to cover the entire field. However, as the width of headers increases, the amount of flexing of the structure of the header which occurs has also increased. This has resulted in increased difficulties in maintaining the header in a straight orientation for proper operation. Headers are typically supported by the harvesting machine at a location in the middle of the header. When the header is suspended above the ground, the ends of the header tend to deflect downward under the load. As headers increase in width, it is harder to prevent this deflection.

Header manufacturers have taken various approaches to address this problem. One approach is to build a header frame with an inner section having a pair of central inner support beams spaced outwardly from a midpoint of the header and a pair of outer sections having at least one outer pair of support beams which are arranged at or adjacent the outer ends of the inner section. A number of braces and gussets connect to the beams to form a truss like structure to reduce the deflection. The individual pieces are welded together with the intent that the header will resist deflection under load. However, stresses can concentrate at the interfaces between the sections leading to frame failure or requiring additional reinforcement.

Overview of the Invention

In one embodiment, the invention is directed a harvesting header for use with a crop harvesting machine. The harvesting header has a header frame with a top beam extending across substantially a full width of the harvesting header and having ends arranged adjacent respective ends of the harvesting header and a midpoint in a center area of the harvesting header. The header frame also has a bottom beam substantially parallel to the top beam extending less than the full width of the harvesting header and having a midpoint in the center area of the harvesting header. First and second vertical main structures connect the top and bottom beams. Diagonal truss members connect the ends of the top beam and the interfaces of the bottom beam and vertical main structures. The first vertical main structure is connected to the bottom beam a distance away from the midpoint of the bottom beam toward a first end of the bottom beam and said the second vertical main structure is connected to the bottom beam a distance away from the midpoint of the bottom beam toward a second end of the bottom beam and forms a feederhouse interface at the center area of the harvesting header. The top beam and bottom beam are continuous through the center area of the harvesting header. In one embodiment, the ends of the bottom beam extend outward of the vertical main structures and header drive assemblies are mounted at the ends of the bottom beam.

These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features of this invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a harvester header for use with a harvesting machine;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a portion of the harvesting header of FIG. 1 with parts broken away to reveal internal details of the header frame; and

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the harvesting header of FIG. 1 with parts broken away to reveal internal details of the header frame.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments. References hereinafter made to certain directions, such as, for example, “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right”, are made as viewed from the side of the combine.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a harvesting header for use with an agricultural combine harvester (not shown) is seen generally at 10. As is known in the art, the harvesting header 10 is mounted in a cantilevered manner on a feederhouse 12 (FIG. 2) of the combine harvester at a center area 14 of the harvesting header 10. The illustrated harvesting header 10 shown herein is a corn header designed to harvest multiple rows of corn simultaneously. However, one skilled in the art will understand that harvesting headers 10 for use in harvesting other crops may utilize concepts described herein without departing from the scope of the invention.

Row units 20 that may be of conventional construction are arranged in side-by-side relationship on the harvesting header 10. Although sixteen row units 20 are shown here, the harvesting header 10 may have any number of such units, in side-by-side relationship, across its width. Each row unit 20 is desirably constructed and operated in a substantially identical manner through any known means. The row units 20 may have a removable snout or divider 22 hingedly coupled to the front of each of the row units 20. As is known in the art, corn stalks are drawn into slots 24 formed by the row units 20, such as with gathering chains (not shown). Snapping rolls (not shown) pull the corn stalks downwardly through the slot 24 and the ears of corn are stripped off of the stalks as the stalks are pulled downwardly between them. Ears of corn are stripped from each of the stalks and carried by an auger 26 in a trough 28 toward the feederhouse interface 12. The collected ears are then carried rearwardly and upwardly into a threshing assembly (not shown) of the combine harvester as known in the art.

Turning to FIG. 2, the row units 20 are mounted on a tool bar 30 that extends transversely across the width of the header 10. The gathering chains and snapping rolls are driven by a rotating row unit shaft 32 which extends transversely of the units over the width of the harvesting header 10. The row unit shaft 32 is drivingly connected to each row unit 20 through any known gear box assembly (not shown). The row unit shaft 32 is driven by a power take-off (PTO) shaft 34 through a header drive system 36. In one embodiment, the header drive system 36 includes a pair of substantially identical drive assemblies 38. Each drive assembly 38 includes a cog belt (not shown) housed in a belt case 40 to transfer power from PTO shafts 34 extending from opposing sides of the feederhouse interface 12 to the row unit shaft 32. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the header drive system 36 may utilize any other chain or gearbox assembly without departing from the scope of the invention.

The harvesting header 10 has a header frame 42 with a top beam 44 which extends across an upper-rear portion of the harvesting header 10. The top beam 44 has ends 46 and 47 arranged at opposite ends of the harvesting header 10 such that the top beam 44 extends substantially the full width of the harvesting header 10. The top beam 44 provides the main structural support for the header frame 42 and desirably is a round tube that provides suitable resistance to torque. The header frame 42 further includes end panels 48 attached to the ends 46 and 47 of the top beam 44. Desirably, the top beam 44 is welded to gussets 52 on the end panels 48 using sound engineering judgment. The end panels 48 provide support for the tool bar 30 which extends parallel to and spaced forwardly of the top beam 44. End panels 48 also provide rotational support for the row unit shaft 32 with bearings 50.

The header frame 42 also has a bottom beam 54 extending across a portion of the width of the header that is generally parallel to and below the top beam 44. Desirably, the bottom beam 54 also is a round tube that provides suitable resistance to torque. The bottom beam 54 has a midpoint generally in the center area 14 of the harvesting header 10 but does not extend the full width of the harvesting header 10. Vertical main structures 56 connect the top beam 44 and the bottom beam 54. The vertical main structures 56 form an interface with the feederhouse 12. Desirably, the header 10 pivotally connects to the feederhouse 12 of the harvesting combine with mounts 57 on the vertical main structures 56. According to the invention, the top beam 44 and bottom beam 54 are continuous through the center area 14 of the harvesting header 10. By continuous through the center area 14, it is meant that the top beam 44 and the bottom beam 54 are continuous members that extend through the center area 14 and out at least partially towards the end panels 48 of the header frame 42.

Desirably, one vertical main structure 56 is attached to the bottom beam 54 a distance away from the midpoint of the bottom beam 54 toward a first end 58 of the bottom beam 54, and the second vertical main structure 56 is attached to the bottom beam 54 a substantially equal distance from the midpoint but toward an opposing end 59 of the bottom beam 54. Desirably, the bottom beam 54 has a width that is between about 25 percent to about 75 percent of the width of the harvesting header 10. In one embodiment, ends 58, 59 of the bottom beam 54 extend past the vertical main structures 56 and header drive assemblies 38 are arranged at opposite ends 58 of the bottom beam 54. Likewise, the first vertical main structure 54 is attached to the top beam 44 a distance away from the midpoint of the top beam 44 toward the end 46 of the top beam 44, and the second vertical main structure 56 is attached to the top beam 44 the same distance from the midpoint of the top beam 44 but toward the opposing end 47 of the top beam 44. Suitable gusset plates 60 are used in welding the vertical main structures 56 to the top beam 44 and bottom beam 54. Connecting plates 62 extend from the vertical main structures 56 and support the tool bar 30.

Diagonal truss members 70 connect the top beam 44 and the bottom beam 54. In the illustrated embodiment, diagonal truss members 70 connect the outer ends 46. 47 of the top beam 44 with the bottom beam 54. In one embodiment, outer ends of the diagonal truss members 70 are structurally connected to respective ends of the top beam 44, and inner ends of the diagonal truss members 70 are structurally connected adjacent respective interfaces of the bottom beam 54 and the vertical main structures 56. By “structurally connected”, it is meant that the diagonal truss members 70 are joined either directly or indirectly with suitable gusset plates using sound engineering judgment. Desirably, the components are welded together using suitable gusset plates. The header frame 42 further comprises two inner support plates 72, each of which is attached to a diagonal truss member 70 so as to be supported thereby. Each of the inner support plates 72 supports the tool bar 30.

The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A harvesting header for use with a crop harvesting machine, the harvesting header having a header frame comprising: a top beam extending across substantially a full width of the harvesting header and having ends arranged adjacent respective ends of the harvesting header and a midpoint in a center area of the harvesting header; a bottom beam substantially parallel to the top beam extending less than the full width of the harvesting header and having a midpoint in the center area of the harvesting header; and first and second vertical main structures connecting the top and bottom beams; first and second diagonal trusses with outer ends of said first and second diagonal trusses being connected to respective ends of the top beam, and inner ends of said first and second diagonal trusses being connected adjacent respective interfaces of the bottom beam and first and second vertical main structures, said first vertical main structure being connected to the bottom beam a distance away from the midpoint of the bottom beam toward a first end of the bottom beam and said second vertical main structure being connected to the bottom beam a distance away from the midpoint of the bottom beam toward a second end of the bottom beam, said vertical main structures forming a feederhouse interface at the center area of the harvesting header, wherein the top beam and bottom beam are continuous through the center area of the harvesting header.
 2. The harvesting header of claim 1 wherein the bottom beam extends less than the full width of the harvesting header.
 3. The harvesting header of claim 1 wherein the top beam and the bottom beam are round tubes.
 4. The harvesting header of claim 1 wherein the bottom beam has a width that is between about 25 percent to about 75 percent of the width of the harvesting header.
 5. The harvesting header of claim 1 wherein ends of the bottom beam extend outward of the vertical main structures and header drive assemblies are mounted at said ends of the bottom beam.
 6. The harvesting header of claim 1 further comprising a tool bar extending across the full width of the header frame substantially parallel to and forwardly of the top beam. 